Laois County Council have been called upon to clean up a statue of a prominent local figure that is in ‘horrible’ condition.
Labour Councillor Marie Tuohy put down a motion regarding the state of the James Fintan Lalor statue at Tuesday’s meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District.
James Fintan Lalor, who died in 1849, was an Irish revolutionary, journalist, and said to be one of the most powerful writers of his day.
A leading member of the Irish Confederation (Young Ireland), he was to play an active part in both the Rebellion in July 1848 and the attempted Rising in September of that same year.
Lalor’s writings were to exert a seminal influence on later Irish leaders such as Michael Davitt, James Connolly, Pádraig Pearse, and Arthur Griffith.
A statue in honour of the man is outside Laois County Council headquarters but according to Cllr Tuohy, it is in a bad state.
Supporting Cllr Tuohy, Fine Gael’s Paddy Buggy also highlighted the condition of the statue.
He said: “I was approached by the Lalor clan and I did speak to corporate affairs about this, I know an investigation is underway.
“This came home to me when the Americans were here and we had a photo beside it, it looked horrible.
Laois County Council say they are investigating the different materials in the monument, to ascertain the best way to clean it.
In a second motion, Cllr Tuohy asked that yellow boxes at the Department of Agriculture and end of Bridge Street be remarked.
She also requested the pedestrian crossing markings at the church be remarked – all of which was confirmed as being done by Engineer Wes Wilkinson.
Finally, Cllr Tuohy asked that the damaged sunshade at Hynds Square by repaired or replaced.
Council officials told her that the replacement had been ordered and should be here in five weeks.
SEE ALSO – Martina Mulhall: From AFL star to GPA Leader – Colm Begley’s journey in sport and support
